The absolute essentials for
entering the game of Polo Article by Peter J. Rizzo reprinted
courtesy of POLO Players' Edition magazine

Not everyone who desires to play
polo can go out and buy a trailer load of well-made ponies and begin competing
with a couple of 10-goal players in the 26-goal U.S. Open Championship.
For some, polo may seem like a great idea until it starts costing money.
Where does the eager polo novice start?

The first thing any beginning
player needs is a desire to ride a horse. A desire to ride must be
transformed by acquiring the requisite skills to control even the most gentle
and willing horse. Without rudimentary riding skills, it is impossible to
progress to learning the rules and mastering the mallet. A desire to ride
may mean sacrificing other pleasures and doing without some of the necessities
of life. Once a prospective player knows how to control a horse, then he
or she is ready to move on to mounting up and trying to hit the little plastic
ball. The best investment anyone can make in learning to play polo is
getting professional riding and polo lessons. A non-polo player with
riding experience in other equitation disciplines can make an excellent pre-polo
teacher because just about all basic equitation is a great starting
point. Once the polo lessons begin, the nuances of the polo seat will have
to be learned. A few polo instructors are excellent riding coaches, but
most polo instructors will not give polo lessons until the aspiring player learn
to ride. Even after riding lessons, the first polo lessons will more than
likely be astride a wooden horse. For those fortunate to own a horse, use
that horse during the time spent with the polo instructor. For those who
do not have a horse (yet), the purchase of a foot mallet may be an inexpensive
way to continue to practice holding and swinging the mallet. A foot mallet
is a shortened mallet that can be used by walking or running around on foot
while hitting a ball, preferably a regulation polo ball. The rudiments of
the game can be explained and explored just as well on foot as on hoof, so
finding a few other foot mallet owners may lead to s spirited game of foot polo.

What is some of the basic equipment
needed to begin a regular regime of riding and taking lessons? The first
accouterment a rider needs is a pair of boots, preferably the tall brown variety
that not only protects the leg from errant balls and crashing bumps, but allow
the best rider to better grip the sides of the mount. Boots come in all
standards of quality, but the best rule of thumb for buying boots is finding a
pair that is comfortable, particularly around the ankle area. Sometimes it
may take weeks of use and leather care to break-in the leather of the boots, so
get keep the Band-aids handy. A pair of gloves may also be necessary,
especially for hands not roughed by using leather reins or calloused by handling
a mallet grip. Any type of soft leather gloves will do, and a big favorite
with high-goal players are leather baseball batting gloves - no not a catcher's
mitt. Some instructors advise not using a glove for the rein hand, as this
will make the hands less sensitive to the horse's mouth. A left-handed
glove may come in handy if the rein leather is not properly cared for, leaving
it razor sharp. Almost all instructors will advise the use of a
right-handed glove to ensure a better grip on the handle of the mallet. A
mallet and helmet will be the next items needed, however, do not rush out and
buy them until advise by a polo instructor or mentor as to what brands may be
preferred. There are several brands of helmets that offer different
standards of safety. The United States Polo Association can provide, at
request, published research on how the various brands did on a variety of safety
tests. A facemask attached to the helmet is recommended by most players,
especially during the beginning stages of learning to play polo. Many
players new to the sport may not be aware of all that goes on in a match, so
face and head protection is a priority. Another recommendation is the use
of safety goggles for at least a modicum of eye protection.

Mallets range in size, usually from
49-54 inches in length. The length of the mallet is generally printed on
the head of the mallet. Mallet heads come in a variety of weights and
shapes. Certain head shapes allow the player to hit the ball in different
ways. Heads come in different weights, and most experienced players know
their preferred weight down to the single gram. A mallet too heavy for a
particular person will make a sore arm or wrist happen real fast, so it is
better to borrow different types of mallets until an informed preference can be
made. Mallet whippiness means the relative flexibility of the cane.
Varying degrees of shaft flexibility will give the player better control of the
mallet. A player will eventually prefer a certain degree of whippiness
that will be factored into that particular player's approach and timing crucial
to hitting a polo ball. Rounding out the list of personal equipment are
knee guards and, only for hose who know how and why to use them, a whip and a
pair of spurs. Remember, a whip and spurs are tools, just like an electric
drill and a power saw. Use them incorrectly or negligently, and unpleasant
things will more than likely happen.

Now for the hard part. The
next step separates those with a desire to play and those with the desire and
wherewithal to play. In order to play polo, a player needs access to at
least one horse. Lots of desire and lots of wherewithal can means lots of
horses and maybe even lots of expensive well-made ponies. However, for
most, polo only truly starts with the acquisition of a horse. There are
basically three (legal) ways to acquire a horse: borrow one from a friend, lease
one for a period of time or go all out and make the big commitment to buy
one. Borrowing one from a friend is the best way to begin. To start
off with, a true friend is one who will lend his polo pony to a beginner.
Learning to play on someone else's horse is a great way to determine if polo is
the best way to spend the recreational dollars. After a while, it will be
time to move on to getting your own horses, especially if the polo friend wants
to play his or her horses.

Very few polo ponies are leased or
rented these days, mainly because of liability concerns and because any decent
polo pony will cease to be decent if played by too many beginners over too long
a period. Some polo schools will lease horses on a short-term basis, and
perhaps one of the larger polo clubs may have a rental string for lease.
By an large, the horses available for lease are being leased for a reason, and
beginning players may find that playing leased horses may become frustrating and
a waste of time and money. Buying the first polo pony truly means becoming
a polo player. The commitment to love, honor and obey the needs of the
horse resembles the other commitment with the similar, like sounding vows.
Buying the first horse is the subject of another story, but a few words to the
wise - do not buy anything untrained, no matter how pretty the horse may
be. Novice players and untrained horses cannot learn to play the game
together. Buy a seasoned, veteran pony and then take the time establish a
relationship with horse. Take care of that horse in the barn and it will
take care of your on the polo field. Good luck, beginning polo
player. Watch what you spend because the sky is the limit.